The Politics of Dancing (song)
1983 single by Re-Flex
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"The Politics of Dancing" is a song by the English new wave band Re-Flex, released in February 1983 as their debut single. It is the title track to their debut studio album. The song was written by keyboardist, backing vocalist, and band co-founder Paul Fishman.
- "Cruel World"
- "Flex It!"
- 6:36 (album version)
- 4:14 (UK and European single version)
- 3:55 (US single version)
| "The Politics of Dancing" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
UK 7-inch vinyl | ||||
| Single by Re-Flex | ||||
| from the album The Politics of Dancing | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | February 1983 | |||
| Studio | Utopia (London, England) | |||
| Length |
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| Label | ||||
| Songwriter | Paul Fishman | |||
| Producer | John Punter | |||
| Re-Flex singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "The Politics of Dancing" on YouTube | ||||
Background
Keyboardist Paul Fishman would record song ideas on a pocket tape recorder while walking or traveling near his home in Hampstead, London, and then sequence them on his Oberheim DSX back at his flat. He would work on the songs and present three or four at a time to his bandmates to jam out to at their next session. He said this song was probably inspired by a train or something he had read, and he took an almost complete demo of it with nearly finished lyrics to the session.[1]
On the lyrics, Fishman said, "The sentiment of the song is really about the power of when people come together and express themselves through dancing and letting go. During the '80s, it was in its very early days but in the latter part of the decade the rave scene was pretty much the message in a nut shell. No, I don't think people generally understand messages but some get it so that's alright."[1]
Track listings
UK, European, and Australian 7-inch single[2][3][4]
- A. "The Politics of Dancing"
- B. "Cruel World"
US, Canadian, and Japanese 7-inch single[5][6]
- A. "The Politics of Dancing" – 3:55
- B. "Flex It!" – 3:57
UK, European, and Australian 12-inch single[7][8][9]
- A. "The Politics of Dancing" (extended version) – 6:36
- B. "Cruel World" (extended version) – 5:30
US 12-inch single[10]
- A. "The Politics of Dancing" – 6:47
- B. "Flex It!" – 5:25
Canadian 12-inch single[11]
- A. "The Politics of Dancing" (long version) – 6:47
- B. "The Politics of Dancing" (short version) – 3:59
Charts
| Chart (1983–1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[12] | 12 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] | 13 |
| Europe (European Top 100 Singles)[14] | 19 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[15] | 28 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] | 43 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] | 12 |
| South Africa (Springbok Radio)[18] | 19 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] | 28 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[20] | 28 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[21] | 24 |
| US Dance/Disco Top 80 (Billboard)[22] | 8 |
| US Rock Top Tracks (Billboard)[23] | 19 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[24] | 23 |
| West Germany (GfK)[25] | 25 |